Photo by: Rich Warnke
From The Future: Dear First-Year Jordan
6/18/2020 1:59:00 PM | Men's Wrestling, Student Athlete, Flight 45, Intellectual Development
Dear First- Year Jordan,
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Have fun and try your best. Those will be the most important aspects of your journey at Lehigh. You are going to experience the highest of highs and also the lowest of lows. Throughout the emotional rollercoaster, it's important to stay true to yourself and to those that support you. The more time you spend developing yourself and your skill set, the more success you will see. Don't worry about what other people are doing. Don't worry about what other people think about you. You do you. Choose the path that's best for you, set goals, and don't let anything or anyone derail you from that path. Your education is the most important thing. It may not seem that way at first, but it's true. Wrestling will always be there for you. The relationships that you will build through this sport are second to none. The lessons that you will learn through this sport will be carried with you the rest of your life. If you don't do well in the classroom, there will be no option for you to do well on the wrestling mat.
Â
There will be a lot of "things" thrown your way early on in your career. It's your choice and only your choice as to how you want to handle them. The first choice is to put it on the back burner, don't address it, and let it play itself out. The second choice is to address it right away and to think about how this may affect you and your goals. Will it take you off that path? Ultimately, everything is going to boil down to you and how you develop as a person over these next five years. Whether you be in the classroom or on the wrestling mat, always remember to have fun and try your best. Having fun is often lost in the process, especially when it comes to school and wrestling. This is your life: school and wrestling. Have fun with both of them and cherish the friendships you make along the way. If you're not having fun, why put yourself through it? And of course, try your best. There is nothing to hang your head over if you gave it absolutely everything you had. You lost a match, but gave it everything you had? That's not a loss; that's a moment of learning. There's no such thing as a loss when you train the right way and give it everything you have. Instead, just call it learning. You are constantly learning throughout all your ups and downs. Your attitude and how you will persevere through the rough times will define you. Everyone can hold themselves up and work during times of success. When the going gets tough, that's when you will find your true character. Do you want to work through it or shy away from the challenge? You work through it. That's who you are. Believe it. Believe in yourself and you will accomplish anything you set your mind to.
Â
While this may seem like a lot of information and advice, it all is quite simple if you think about it. Your time at Lehigh may seem long, but it goes by in the blink of an eye. You are in control of your own destiny. Life is a movie; pick your own role, climb your own ladder or dig your own hole. You will climb. Climb up that ladder to visualize your success and all of your hard work. No one works harder than you and no one wants it more than you. Carry this with you forever. Control what you can control because one day, all of this will be over. You will be moving on from Lehigh and the sport of wrestling. Enjoy every second of it because you never know what the future has in store and when your time here is up.
Â
Persevere. Control what you can control. Try your best and have fun. Outwork everyone. Learn.
Â
From yours truly,
JK
Â
Â
Have fun and try your best. Those will be the most important aspects of your journey at Lehigh. You are going to experience the highest of highs and also the lowest of lows. Throughout the emotional rollercoaster, it's important to stay true to yourself and to those that support you. The more time you spend developing yourself and your skill set, the more success you will see. Don't worry about what other people are doing. Don't worry about what other people think about you. You do you. Choose the path that's best for you, set goals, and don't let anything or anyone derail you from that path. Your education is the most important thing. It may not seem that way at first, but it's true. Wrestling will always be there for you. The relationships that you will build through this sport are second to none. The lessons that you will learn through this sport will be carried with you the rest of your life. If you don't do well in the classroom, there will be no option for you to do well on the wrestling mat.
Â
There will be a lot of "things" thrown your way early on in your career. It's your choice and only your choice as to how you want to handle them. The first choice is to put it on the back burner, don't address it, and let it play itself out. The second choice is to address it right away and to think about how this may affect you and your goals. Will it take you off that path? Ultimately, everything is going to boil down to you and how you develop as a person over these next five years. Whether you be in the classroom or on the wrestling mat, always remember to have fun and try your best. Having fun is often lost in the process, especially when it comes to school and wrestling. This is your life: school and wrestling. Have fun with both of them and cherish the friendships you make along the way. If you're not having fun, why put yourself through it? And of course, try your best. There is nothing to hang your head over if you gave it absolutely everything you had. You lost a match, but gave it everything you had? That's not a loss; that's a moment of learning. There's no such thing as a loss when you train the right way and give it everything you have. Instead, just call it learning. You are constantly learning throughout all your ups and downs. Your attitude and how you will persevere through the rough times will define you. Everyone can hold themselves up and work during times of success. When the going gets tough, that's when you will find your true character. Do you want to work through it or shy away from the challenge? You work through it. That's who you are. Believe it. Believe in yourself and you will accomplish anything you set your mind to.
Â
While this may seem like a lot of information and advice, it all is quite simple if you think about it. Your time at Lehigh may seem long, but it goes by in the blink of an eye. You are in control of your own destiny. Life is a movie; pick your own role, climb your own ladder or dig your own hole. You will climb. Climb up that ladder to visualize your success and all of your hard work. No one works harder than you and no one wants it more than you. Carry this with you forever. Control what you can control because one day, all of this will be over. You will be moving on from Lehigh and the sport of wrestling. Enjoy every second of it because you never know what the future has in store and when your time here is up.
Â
Persevere. Control what you can control. Try your best and have fun. Outwork everyone. Learn.
Â
From yours truly,
JK
Â
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